Generate your own renewable energy with a 3D printed micro turbine

I wonder how many people went a little overboard with the Glastonbury selfies this weekend only to be left with no battery on their smartphones even before the first headline act. Sure you can use your power bars, your battery-pack cases or queue up at the phone charging tents but even those methods might not have you covered for the last night when you want to prove to your jealous Instagram followers just how close you were to Lionel Richie. Perhaps, a micro wind turbine could be the ultimate festival accessory?

Imagined by RMRDTECH: Rapid Manufacture Rapid Deployment Technologies seven years ago, the project’s goal is to allow people across the globe to create their own wind turbine and generate their own power. Enter, the RMRD 2.0 Small Wind Turbine, a portable micro wind turbine, made of 3D printed parts producing renewable, clean 5 volt USB power. With 3D printing, the most intricate parts of the turbine can be replicated quickly and accurately with 10 parts taking approximately two hours to produce.

Designed to power USB devices such as phones, cameras, tablets and GPS, in low wind speeds, the turbine begins generating power at 2.5 m/s reaching full 5 Watt charge at 5.5 m/s. The turbine can be carried in a small 8inch carry case and set up in less than 2 minutes.

If a device requires more power, micro turbines can be connected as a series for increased power output which are capable of powering off-grid 12 Volt batteries and can be combined with solar and hydro energy sources.

So far the project has been a success with a $40,000 Kickstarter campaign headed for completion today. The plan for the team is to travel to Nicaragua in Central America, armed with a 3D printer and turbine materials, and manufacture a minimum of 50 turbines which will be given to those who need it most.